11779 December 15. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
This Morning We arose at 5 or 6 O Clock, went over in a Boat, and mounted our Mules. Thirteen of them in Number and two Mulateers —one of whom went before for a Guide and the other followed after, to pick up Stragglers. We rode over very bad roads, and very high Mountains, where We had a very extensive Country, appearing to be a rich Soil and well cultivated but very few Plantations of Trees.—...
2[1779 December 15. Wednesday.] (Adams Papers)
1779 December 15. Wednesday. This Morning We arose at five O Clock, went over the Water in a Boat and mounted our Mules, thirteen in Number, and two Mulateers, one of whom went before for a Guide, and the other followed Us, to pick up Stragglers. We rode over very bad roads and very high Mountains where We had the View of a very extensive Country, appearing to be a rich Soil and well...
3Wednesday 15th. (Adams Papers)
This morning at 5 o clock the Consul’s servant came and wak’d us up. We dress’d and drank a cup of Chocolat. After breakfast the Consul came and told us he was ready. We then went down to the wharf and went on board a boat to cross over the other Side of the bason. When we arrived the Muletiers were not quite ready but we soon got ready, and then we sot out like so many Don Quixote’s and...
4John Lowell to Abigail Adams, 15 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
I received by the Return of the last Post from Philadelphia a Letter from my Friend Mr. Adams which he had very kindly directed to me there, and had taken my Pen to a cknow ledge the Receipt of it to you when I was favoured with your’s. I have every Motive to wish to be serviceable to Mr. Adams and his Connections, to Mrs. Adams in a peculiar Manner, and I hope you will without the least...
5John Thaxter to Abigail Adams, 15 December 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Reason of our being in Spain, you will, perhaps, be no stranger to, when this reaches You. I am not sorry We arrived at Ferrol, as a prosecution of our Voyage might have been attended with hazard. A leaky Ship in a Storm or violent Gale, is not a Situation for very comfortable Sensations. We had Leaks, Storms and Winds in the passage. The former were more formidable than the latter, and...
6George Washington to Brigadier General Louis Le Bèque Du Portail, 15 December 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] December 15, 1779 . Asks Du Portail to assist Major General Nathanael Greene in drawing up a report on the defense of the present Army encampment. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
7George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 15 December 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] December 15, 1779 . Asks Greene to assist Brigadier General Du Portail in drawing up a report on the defenses needed to withstand an attack on the winter camp. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
8George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 15 December 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] December 15, 1779 . Reiterates need for food for the Army. States that news of the sailing of British fleet was premature. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
9George Washington to John Sullivan, [15 December 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Morristown, New Jersey, December 15, 1779. ] Assures Sullivan of friendship and esteem. Thanks Sullivan for news concerning an intrigue against Washington. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Sullivan had resigned his commission on November 30, 1779.
10To Benjamin Franklin from Chaumont: Memorandum, [c. 15 December 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress M. Lée a mandé en amerique que M. le Cte. de vergennes luy avait ecrit unne Lettre dans Laquelle Ce Ministre desavouoit Ce que M. Gerard avait dit du peu de Confiance qu’il avait dans Le Dit Sieur Lée, que L’indignation du Roy Seroit la punition du Sr. Gerard. M. Lée avait eu Connoissance du Langage de M. Gerard il s’etoit Rendu a versailles pour Scavoir Si M. de...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 15 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je suis ici depuis deux jours, incommodé de rhumatismes. Assez bien cependant, pour pouvoir partir aujourdhui pour Lahaie, d’où je suis absent depuis le 5 Nov. J’aurai l’honneür de vous écrire de là plus amplement. Les vents contraires & les tempêtes empêchent toujours le Commodore de quitter sa triste rade. Je n’ai pu y tenir plus longtemps; & j’ai dû m’en...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 15 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer, Monsieur, avec la lettre de M. de la Villehelio Administrateur à Nantes, celle de la De. de St. Maurice, mére de la Delle. Des Bois enlevée de St. Méen par le Sieur Lock, avec le quel elle se disposoit a passer en Angleterre, sur la promesse que lui avoit faite ce Prisonnier de l’Epouser. Vous verrez, Monsieur, que M. De la Villehélio,...
13To Benjamin Franklin from John Willson et al., 15 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I most humbly Make bold to Accquaint your honour that I was taken by the English regular troops at the retreat of Ticonderogae being then in Major Stephen’s train of Artillery under the Commd: of Genrall Patterson— and being then sent down to Quebeck and from thence to England as A Prissoner & after some time made my Esscape where having no means of...
14General Orders, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Varick transcript , DLC:GW . Adj. Gen. Alexander Scammell’s orderly book entry for this date includes a general order: “The Maryland Line gives the Main Guard tomorrow” (orderly book, 17 Oct. 1779–22 March 1780, DNA : RG 93, Orderly Books, 1775–1783, vol. 33).
15From George Washington to Jabez Bowen, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 25th ulto suggesting the expediency of letting the park of Artillery remain at providence untill circumstances should determine the probability of the enemy’s repossessing Rhode Island —This matter I think may be ascertained with a tolerable degree of certainty in a short time, as, by a variety of accounts, a very considerable detachment from the Army at...
16From George Washington to Major General Nathanael Greene, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have directed General DuPortail to meet you tomorrow morning that you may in conjunction with him examine all the grounds in the environs and make a written report to me without delay of the different spots which appear most proper to be occupied in case of any movement of the enemy towards us, pointing out the comparitive advantages and disadvantages of each. You will consider the several...
17From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The representations I had the honor to transmit in my letters of the 10th and 12th and those now inclosed will inform Congress of the deplorable distress of the great departments of the army. I beg leave to add that from a particular consultation of the Commissaries, I find our prospects are infinitely worse than they have been at any period of the War, and that unless some expedient can be...
18To George Washington from John Laurance, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Laurance, 15 Dec. 1779 . GW wrote John Morgan on 17 Dec.: “Inclosed you have the Copy of a letter which I received from Mr Laurance the Judge Advocate.” Morgan then wrote GW on 27 Dec.: “Your Excellencys Letter of the 17th Instant, inclosing the Judge Advocates of the 15th came to my hand.”
19To George Washington from Col. Stephen Moylan, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Col. Stephen Moylan, 15 Dec. 1779 . GW wrote Moylan on 25 Dec.: “I have received your two letters of the 15th and 16th of december.”
20From George Washington to Alexander Spotswood, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 21st of Novr did not come to hand till the last Post —Mine in the same Month under cover to Mrs Washington has no doubt been forwarded to you. I waited in continual expectation of my Nephews return for a good oppertunity to send the Sorrel, but as he seems to have an inclination to remain longer with the Army I embrace Captn Burwells offer of taking the horse to you. He goes...
21From George Washington to Major General John Sullivan, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving a few days since by Capt. Bruin your letter of the 1st instant. I assure you, my Dear Sir, I am sensibly touched by so striking an instance of your friendship, at a time and in a manner, that demonstrates its sincerity and confirms the opinion I have always entertained of your sentiments towards me. I wish you to believe, that your uneasiness on the score you...
22From George Washington to Brigadier General Anthony Wayne, 15 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Yours of yesterday came to hand late last night. I had received an account by some Gentlemen from Newark that the fleet had certainly sailed, which I find by yours was premature. The same account mentioned that a great number of flat Boats and some Horse were on board. I would wish you to endeavour to ascertain the truth of these circumstances. It is probable they are waiting untill they are...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Huntington, 15 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 15 Dec. 1779 . Circular letter to the state executives enclosing a resolve of Congress of this date recommending an embargo on exports. FC ( DLC : PCC , No. 14); 2 p. Enclosure missing; printed in JCC Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , ed. W. C. Ford and others, Washington, 1904–1937 , xv , 1383. TJ had anticipated the recommendation of Congress in his Proclamation...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 15 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter which came by a flag of truce from New-York, will, I imagine, inform you that prisoners from your state are sent here for the purpose of exchange. A copy of a letter from the master of the flag I also take the liberty of inclosing, as it will give you further information of their arrival here and escape from the flag. The master is to await the return of the prisoners whom...